Pulse was picked as the best among three finalists in the Innovation category of ThoughtFarmer’s annual Best Intranet Awards in large part because of the unique ways employees at every level of the company have found to incorporate Pulse into many aspects of their daily workflow.

The Innovation category recognized extraordinary intranets that push the boundaries; for example, a unique integration, using a feature in an interesting way, or doing something outside the intranet box.

ThoughtFarmer praised Pulse in a webinar announcing the award winners: “Innovation is highly valued at MedData and woven into everything they do. … They really think out of the box and make sure that their intranet is really fun and engaging and really resonating with their staff.”

ThoughtFarmer’s entire webinar is included below. The segment on the Innovation Award begins at the 17:05 mark.

“With over three-quarters of MedData’s 2,200 employees working remotely nationwide, getting people connected and engaged requires a world-class platform, passionate project owners, and innovative strategies,” said Chris Farrell, MedData’s senior vice president of marketing. “Pulse’s success is a testament to every team member’s commitment to create a true community, and that teamwork directly reflects in our ability to delight our clients and patients alike, every day.”

MedData launched Pulse in September 2016 and it has since become an indispensable tool for communication, collaboration, resource sharing, and support. Employees can go to Pulse to learn how MedData is performing financially, to find opportunities for advancement, to access companywide calendars, to review their benefits, and to engage leadership with questions and ideas. Pulse also emphasizes having fun at work, with plenty of places where teammates can share photos, join a book club, post “shout outs,” and browse items on the employee store.

About MedData

MedData, a MEDNAX (NYSE: MD) company, is a leading provider of technology-enabled management services for hospitals and health systems that serve the entire patient financial lifecycle from pre-visit through post-discharge while improving the patient experience and helping them engage better with their providers. For four decades, the company has been providing innovative solutions to the medical community and serving hundreds of millions of patients across numerous medical specialties. MedData currently serves more than 10,000 physicians at a growing network of 3,000+ facilities nationwide from its headquarters in Brecksville, Ohio, and more than 20 regional offices across the U.S. To learn more about MedData’s patient-focused solutions platform, please visit the MedData website.

]]>https://www.meddata.com/press-releases/2018/08/06/meddatas-intranet-wins-innovation-award/feed/03634Kentucky Medicaid Work Requirements Haltedhttps://www.meddata.com/blog/regulatory/2018/07/02/kentucky-medicaid-work-requirements-halted/
https://www.meddata.com/blog/regulatory/2018/07/02/kentucky-medicaid-work-requirements-halted/#comments_replyMon, 02 Jul 2018 13:00:58 +0000https://www.meddata.com/?p=3582On Friday, June 29, 2018, a Federal judge blocked Kentucky’s plan to impose Medicaid work requirements. The plan was intended to begin to be phased into effect on July 1, 2018 with most counties implementing the requirements by years end.

The lawsuit, brought in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of 16 Kentuckians at risk of losing coverage, was filed by National Health Law Program, the Kentucky equal Justice Center, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Oral arguments were heard on June 15, 2018. Obama appointee Judge James E. Boasberg ruled that the Trump administration’s approval of the work requirement plan has been “arbitrary and capricious” because the administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar “never adequately considered whether Kentucky HEALTH would in fact help the state furnish medical assistance to its citizens, a central objective of Medicaid.” Additionally, the judge stated that Azar had a “glaring” oversight and did not address that an estimated 95,000 Kentuckians would lose coverage under the new plan.

CMS Administrator Seema Verma called the ruling “disappointing” and is working with the Justice Department to determine whether to appeal the ruling.

KY Governor Matt Bevin stated that if this case ultimately loses in court, he will instead end Medicaid expansion in Kentucky. His administration has stated that in light of the ruling, Kentucky would work with federal officials to quickly resolve the “single issue raised” by the court and hopefully implement the work requirements.

While this ruling only affects work requirements in Kentucky, the suit will be closely watched as it will directly affect the ability to implement work requirements in other states. Currently, Indiana, Arkansas and New Hampshire have been granted waivers to require work as a condition to Medicaid eligibility and numerous states have waivers pending with CMS.

MedData Disclaimer – This document is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. The providing of the information in this document is neither intended to establish an attorney-client relationship nor to expand the existing contractual relationship with MedData. MedData would recommend that you consult with your own internal legal resources before taking any action in reliance on this information.

A number of healthcare organizations seek out input from vendors for revenue cycle management and financial improvement. At these vendors, there are women who have the expertise to help providers with everything from front-end processes to coding and billing.Here, we highlight female leaders dedicated to the revenue cycle space.

]]>https://www.meddata.com/press-coverage/2018/06/19/female-vendor-rcm-leaders-to-know-in-2018/feed/03577Kentucky Medicaid Updatehttps://www.meddata.com/blog/regulatory/2018/06/14/kentucky-medicaid-update/
https://www.meddata.com/blog/regulatory/2018/06/14/kentucky-medicaid-update/#comments_replyThu, 14 Jun 2018 13:00:13 +0000https://www.meddata.com/?p=3593On January 11, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new policy under the Trump administration regarding community engagement for able-bodied adults enrolled in Medicaid. A letter was sent the same day to all state Medicaid Directors detailing the new policy, which will allow states to require working-age, non-pregnant, non-disabled individuals to be engaged in work or other “community engagement activities,” including skills training, education, job searches, volunteering or caregiving as a condition for Medicaid eligibility. Kentucky became the first state to obtain approval to implement such a requirement.

Kentucky’s New Requirements

Following the new CMS policy, Kentucky’s work requirement proposal was approved on January 12, 2018. The majority of the regulations, called Kentucky HEALTH, will go into effect July 1, 2018. Under the new requirements, adults age 19 to 64 must complete 80 hours of community engagement a month, including work, school, training or volunteering to maintain their eligibility, unless they meet a specified exemption. Exemptions include a disability, pregnancy, full time students, former foster care youth, and primary caregivers. Beneficiaries will have their eligibility suspended for failure to demonstrate compliance with the community engagement requirement, but will be able to reactivate their eligibility on the first day of the month after they complete 80 hours of community engagement in a 30 day period, or the completion of a state-approved health literacy or financial literacy course. Beneficiaries who are in an eligibility suspension and fail to meet the requirements by their redetermination date will have their enrollment terminated and will be required to submit a completely new application. Good cause exemptions relating to termination of benefits may be allowed under certain circumstances. Beneficiaries will be able to track their community engagement hours through the Citizen Connect website.

Dental and vision insurance, which is currently covered by Kentucky Medicaid will be eliminated. However, these services may be earned back through a rewards system called My Rewards Account, with enrollees earning credit through incentives like getting an annual physical or completing a diabetes, weight management, or anti-smoking program. Enrollees may have started earning credit beginning April 1, 2018. The Citizen Connect website may also be used to check the balance of beneficiaries’ My Rewards Account, and learn how the Reward Dollars may be earned and spent.

Additionally, enrollees will be required to pay premiums based on their income, which will range from $1 to $15 a month. Individuals with income above the poverty level (100-138% FPL) who do not pay premiums for 60 days will be locked out of the program for 6 months.

Able-bodied individuals will also have a $1,000 “deductible.” Non-preventative services will be tracked against the $1,000 balance in each member’s “deductible account.” At the end of the year, up to 50% of the remaining balance of the deductible will be transferred to the members My Rewards Account. Enrollees who use the entire $1,000 will still be able to access medical care for the remainder of the year and will not owe anything out of pocket.

Beneficiaries that make trips to the emergency room that are later determined to be a non-emergency will have an amount between $20 and $75 deducted from their My Rewards account. If the beneficiary calls their insurance company nurse hotline prior to going to the ER, the penalty will be waived, even if the visit is not an emergency. Beneficiaries that have no inappropriate ER visits in a year will receive a credit to their My Rewards account.

Finally, retroactive eligibility will no longer be available for Kentucky HEALTH enrollees, except for pregnant women, children under 1 year old and former foster care youth.

Lawsuit

Following the waiver approval in January, a group of 16 Kentucky residents filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia arguing that the changes for Kentucky are illegal. The suit claims that Kentucky’s actions, and the federal government’s approval of the waiver, violated the Administrative Procedure Act (which requires a notice process for changes), the Take Care Clause (which requires that the President has the duty to take care that all the Laws passed by Congress shall be faithfully executed), and the Medicaid Provisions of the Social Security Act. Plaintiffs argue that through the approval of the Kentucky Waiver, CMS has attempted to re-write the Medicaid Act and abused the 1115 waiver process, expanding it beyond its intended purpose. Oral arguments expect to be heard on Friday June 15, 2018.

MedData Disclaimer – This document is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. The providing of the information in this document is neither intended to establish an attorney-client relationship nor to expand the existing contractual relationship with MedData. MedData would recommend that you consult with your own internal legal resources before taking any action in reliance on this information.

]]>https://www.meddata.com/blog/regulatory/2018/06/14/kentucky-medicaid-update/feed/03593Virginia Medicaid Expansionhttps://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/06/04/virginia-medicaid-expansion/
https://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/06/04/virginia-medicaid-expansion/#comments_replyMon, 04 Jun 2018 13:00:21 +0000https://www.meddata.com/?p=3552On May 30, 2018, both houses of the Virginia state legislature voted to expand Medicaid after over 4 years of failed attempts. Governor Ralph Northam, a physician who campaigned in favor of Medicaid expansion in last year’s elections, is predicted to sign the bill. The move will expand Medicaid eligibility to an additional 400,000 low-income adults and is expected to go into effect January 1, 2019. The state’s required 10% portion of funding the expansion will be raised through additional taxes on Virginia’s hospitals.

Currently, Virginia has a restrictive Medicaid program covering predominantly children and disabled adults. Childless adults are not eligible and working parents cannot earn more than 30% of the federal poverty level. With this bill, Virginia will become the 33rd state to approve an expansion under the ACA, and one of the largest states by population to expand the program.

Several other states have expansion efforts in the works, including Idaho, Utah (the measure was qualified for the ballot on May 29th) and Nebraska, although the likelihood of success in those states is uncertain.

MedData Disclaimer – This document is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. The providing of the information in this document is neither intended to establish an attorney-client relationship nor to expand the existing contractual relationship with MedData. MedData would recommend that you consult with your own internal legal resources before taking any action in reliance on this information.

Fisher has worked at MedData for over 20 years, progressing from Patient Advocate to Chief Operating Officer, where she has served since fall of 2016. She says she’s excited for the new challenge and honored to lead a company that is consistently at the forefront of the industry.

“I am grateful for this opportunity and eager to lead a truly innovative company that is helping define the future of the entire revenue cycle management industry. It is my privilege to work with such a dedicated team of employees, and together we will continue to honor the great responsibility our clients have given us by treating their patients with the tremendous care they deserve,” Fisher said.

Under Fisher’s guidance, MedData has seen its services expand and its business grow. She developed the company’s Government and Charity Programs into a full-service solution that evaluates patient eligibility for all available federal, state, county, and charity resources. She also conceived and developed the Complex Claims Programs, which have grown to include Appeals and Denials, Out-of-State Medicaid, Third Party Liability, and Worker’s Compensation services.

Fisher will report directly to Joe Calabro, President of MEDNAX. Calabro said the leadership teams at MEDNAX and MedData knew Fisher was someone with a passion for delivering patient-focused solutions, building strong client relationships, and maintaining the company’s vigorous culture.

“We feel strongly that Emily and the existing leadership team have the intelligence, work ethic, passion, and drive to take MedData to new heights,” Calabro said.

Fisher is taking over for Ann Barnes, who announced in May that she would be stepping down as president and CEO on June 15 to pursue other opportunities.

About MedData

MedData, a MEDNAX (NYSE: MD) company, is a leading provider of technology-enabled management services for hospitals and health systems that serve the entire patient financial lifecycle from pre-visit through post-discharge while improving the patient experience and helping them engage better with their providers. For four decades, the company has been providing innovative solutions to the medical community and serving hundreds of millions of patients across numerous medical specialties. MedData currently serves more than 10,000 physicians at a growing network of 3,000+ facilities nationwide from its headquarters in Brecksville, Ohio, and more than 20 regional offices across the U.S. To learn more about MedData’s patient-focused solutions platform, please visit the MedData website.

]]>https://www.meddata.com/press-releases/2018/06/01/meddata-announces-emily-fisher-as-acting-president/feed/03542Kansas KanCare Waiver Updatehttps://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/05/23/kansas-kancare-waiver-update/
https://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/05/23/kansas-kancare-waiver-update/#comments_replyWed, 23 May 2018 14:00:11 +0000https://www.meddata.com/?p=3549MedData Regulatory and Governmental Affairs has continued to monitor the Section 1115 waivers pending with CMS, including Kansas’ KanCare waiver renewal application filed on December 20, 2017. Included in this waiver was the request to update the Medicaid program, to be called KanCare 2.0, in order to “accomplish the goal of helping Kansans achieve healthier, more independent lives by coordinating services and supports for social determinants of health and independence in addition to traditional Medicaid benefits.” Changes in the waiver include work requirements, a cap on lifetime benefits and better incorporation with Medicaid Managed Care Organizations.

On May 7, 2018, CMS notified Kansas officials that the requested 36-month cap on Medicaid eligibility would not be approved. Following the denial, further emphasis was made by CMS Administrator Seema Verma, stating at an event that “We’ve indicated that we would not approve lifetime limits and I think we’ve made that pretty clear to states.”

In the denial letter, CMS stated it was committed to supporting Kansas in its goal of approving its Medicaid program and that well-designed community engagement programs may help reach this goal. CMS acknowledged its recent approval of work requirements in waivers from Arkansas, Kentucky and Indiana, and invited Kansas review the approved waivers in an effort to identify an appropriate approach of incorporating community engagement requirements. In the meantime, CMS will continue to review the remaining portions of Kansas’ waiver, including the work requirement provisions.

MedData Disclaimer – This document is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. The providing of the information in this document is neither intended to establish an attorney-client relationship nor to expand the existing contractual relationship with MedData. MedData would recommend that you consult with your own internal legal resources before taking any action in reliance on this information.

]]>https://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/05/23/kansas-kancare-waiver-update/feed/03549Medicaid Coverage – Good for Your Patients and Your Bottom Linehttps://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/04/26/medicaid-coverage-good-for-your-patients-and-your-bottom-line/
https://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/04/26/medicaid-coverage-good-for-your-patients-and-your-bottom-line/#comments_replyThu, 26 Apr 2018 15:30:59 +0000https://www.meddata.com/?p=3504It seems like critics of Medicaid are everywhere these days, but a new study supports the efficacy of the program depended upon by millions of low-income and needy Americans.

With a smart approach to connecting this vulnerable population to the right resources, your organization could improve patient satisfaction and cut costs at the same time.

However, researchers from America’s Health Insurance Plans debunk those popular criticisms in the new study “The Value of Medicaid: Providing Access to Care and Preventive Health Services.” The primary findings from this analysis reveal that adults and children enrolled in a Medicaid health plan had significantly better access to care and preventive services than people with no health coverage.

As this study indicates, getting Medicaid and similar programs such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) makes sense for patients not just from a cost standpoint but also from a care standpoint. For example, having regular access to care through Medicaid’s coverage could possibly lower readmission rates.

It’s hard to predict what might happen, but one thing seems fairly certain: If your organization wants to make the best use of Medicaid, you’ll need to be prepared to handle these changes on a national level. Typically, hospitals don’t have adequate resources – whether internal or through a vendor – to do so.

Conveniently Connect Patients with the Right Resources

Yet, as the debate over Medicaid continues to make headlines, many people who might benefit from it are unaware of the financial resources that could be available to them or don’t have access to the assistance they need to apply. The process can be confusing and frustrating, which is why many patients delay seeking assistance or don’t seek it at all.

Part of the problem is that a patient has to prove everything on their application via documentation. There are over 6,000 different document combinations when you consider all the state county and federal programs. That greatly increases the risk of missing a document or submission timeframe – the top reason for case denials.

There are potentially Medicaid-eligible patients looking for financial help at hospitals and health systems everywhere – probably even yours. Put Medicaid to work for you with a unified solution dedicated to finding the correct coverage for every patient regardless of their situation, so your healthcare organization can rest easy knowing that your patients’ financial experience is just as great as their clinical one.

At MedData, we’ve developed a solution that does just that. Our method identifies any available payer sources and the most appropriate coverage – including Medicaid – in compliance with all regulatory and internal requirements through a single touchpoint for patients.

The process starts with our screening and advocacy programs which are designed to do two simple things:

Find as many existing coverage options as possible.

Get patients qualified for as much additional coverage as possible.

Our advocates use proprietary technology to screen for over 2,050 different programs, and we make it easy for patients so they don’t have to worry about complex applications. Plus, we are the ONLY vendor with resources available anywhere in the country on-site and in the field to provide real-time feedback and updates, making us extremely responsive to the constantly shifting landscape across all 50 states.

By using one comprehensive solution for everything – from eligibility, to post-care follow-up, to account closure – you ensure a coordinated process for you and your patients. As a result, they enjoy an improved overall care experience and you benefit from better reimbursement.

So, don’t believe the doubters. There IS value in Medicaid – for your patients’ care and for your bottom line.

]]>https://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/04/26/medicaid-coverage-good-for-your-patients-and-your-bottom-line/feed/03504Trump Signs Order to Require Medicaid Recipients to Workhttps://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/04/24/trump-signs-order-to-require-medicaid-recipients-to-work/
https://www.meddata.com/blog/2018/04/24/trump-signs-order-to-require-medicaid-recipients-to-work/#comments_replyTue, 24 Apr 2018 17:02:07 +0000https://www.meddata.com/?p=3499Medicaid coverage continues to be a hot topic across the country as several states consider expanding coverage and now Trump’s executive order adds work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries. With our proprietary technology able to screen 2,050 different state and local programs and field advocates on the ground across the country, MedData is the only revenue cycle partner prepared to handle these changes on a national level.

President Trump quietly signed a long-anticipated executive order on Tuesday intended to force low-income recipients of food assistance, Medicaid and low-income housing subsidies to join the work force or face the loss of their benefits.

According to KaufmannHall’s 2018 CFO Outlook, healthcare finance executives say cost-reduction is the #1 most important performance management activity for 2018.

Recent analysis from Ernst & Young suggests that transforming the traditional model of revenue cycle management might help healthcare organizations reduce costs and adapt to the swirling economic and regulatory environment.

So what’s wrong with doing things the way your hospital or physician practice has always done them?

Hospital systems have traditionally approached billing from the insurance standpoint rather than the patient. Billing platforms such as NextGen, Epic, McKesson, etc. have generally been designed to handle insurance payers and a handful of patient balances, NOT thousands of patient pay accounts. Even when healthcare organizations do attempt to engage with their patients, it tends to be in silos.

Let’s take this example of the victim of a car accident. She’s uninsured and was traveling out-of-state for business. After she gets great treatment at the hospital, is discharged, and then the confusion and frustration begins.

HOSPITAL

Multiple vendors & handoffs

Time & resource inefficiencies

Missed revenue opportunities

Significant compliance risk

COLLECTING PAYMENT

PATIENT

Confusion & Frustration

Provides the same information time and time again to multiple vendors

Becomes disengaged and slows down process

Makes payment when they shouldn’t

She could be eligible for auto insurance, workers’ compensation, disability, out-of-state programs, and more – so the hospital could be pursuing reimbursement from up to 15 different payers (including the patient!). All of the communications she receives – phone calls, letters, etc. – attempting to collect could be coming from multiple different vendors, insurance companies, and attorneys. The more complex the process becomes, the more frustrated the patient can get.

But we wondered what would happen if you could connect these traditionally siloed services?

We conducted a 2017 annual performance study with existing clients across a broad range of provider types and found that just by linking all patient-facing financial programs together to identify all payer sources in the properly compliant order, hospitals could drastically reduce the inefficient and costly aspects of traditional revenue cycle management. Hospitals and health systems were able to simultaneously increase overall cost savings and patient satisfaction, in addition to capturing incremental revenue purely through combining best-in-class patient financial services into a single process.

So maybe it’s time rethink the traditional approach to revenue cycle management. Hospitals can reduce costs and make sure every patient, whether insured, under-insured, or uninsured, is able to receive the most appropriate coverage for their situation.